riding and hiking trails along the American River . Because sheriff ’ s squad cars are ponderous and impossible to maneuver on narrow , sandy and sometimes muddy trails , the adult riders are mobilizing to take over patrol duties .
They will operate on a buddy system with the full support of Sheriff John Misterly , himself a horseman . Heading the local patrol is Donal Dean , chairman of the Sacramento Horsemens Association trail program and a member of the trail promotion committee of the California Horsemens Association .
Dean said he believes equestrian policemen can discourage trail violations by persuasion and good public relations . But they , like anyone else , also can make citizens arrests or call on the law .
Duties Are Outlined
One of their main duties will be to keep motorcycles off the trails . The noisy two wheelers tear into the ground and frighten stock . That is why the sheriff cannot use them , either . A recently enacted ordinance limits their use to a well defined area in the American River Parkway behind Mather Drive-In Theater off Folsom Boulevard .
Other tasks suggested by Misterly are to render first aid and watch for fires . By working in pairs , one horseman can ride for help while the other assists the injured or tries to control the fire .
The patrol group strongly backs efforts to complete the state trail system , a giant 3,000 mile loop to go up both sides of the state , through the Sierra Nevada and along the coast . About 1,000 miles are finished , 700 of them in Southern California .
Need For Proiection
He said his group feels a moral obligation to protect the trails for horsemen , hikers and fishermen . “ If we horsemen don ’ t go out and protect our own trails , we don ’ t know who will ,” he said .
It might be noted here that several members are Walking Horse owners and are also charter members of the NCTWHA . I feel this is a very worthwhile undertaking and each and every one of these horsemen deserve congratulations and all of the support they can get .
" FROM EAST TENNESSEE "
By JUNE RIGGS P . O . Box 168 Athens , Tennessee
Here is a brief resume of our East Tennessee Walking Horse activities since the Celebration .
We went to the Franklin , North Carolina horse show in the latter part of September . It was a well organized show and a pleasure to take part in .
Wink Grover , of Etowah , Tennessee , showed up with a string of top stock . He won the 2 year old class on GO BOY ’ S BIG BOY , owned by Burnette & Burke of Morristown , and rode his new horse GO BOY ’ S CRIMSON TIDE to the blue ribbon in the Junior Class . MERRY MOTION MAKER owned by H . P . Shelly of Dallas , Texas , won the stake class outstandingly with Wink aboard . And , believe it or not , my mare COLO NEL ’ S LOVE LADY , and I actually won the Amateur Class . Wink tied 2nd on SOUVEINOR ’ S MELODY , a beautiful mare owned by Mr . Whisnant of Hickory , N . C . Ralph Hensley won this class on a beautiful little mare .
We spent a glorious weekend in Morristown with Mr . and Mrs . Carroll “ Goose ” Altizer . Goose and Lewis Burke ( owner of GO BOY ’ S BIG BOY ) took me to see their mares out in a pasture in Morristown . Goose has 3 white mares and Lewis has 3 sorrels . Kathy Altizer and I went over to Lewis ’ barn to see STAR , Kathy ’ s favorite horse .
Lewis had several other good horses in his barn including a good looking weanling . We also visited Paul Hairrell ’ s barn which is full of real good weanlings and yearlings . I rode a 2 year old stud of Paul ’ s . After a full and fun filled day we all headed back to Knoxville to the horse show . It was terribly hard to say good-bye to the Altizers and the sons , Ricky ( 4 ) and Scotty ( 2 ). During my stay I met a very nice girl named Barbara Burke . She helped to make my weekend even better .
MACK K ’ S 22 has returned home to Robin wood Farms in Kingsport , Tennessee . “ 22 ” has been in training at Wink Groover Stables for several months .
Debby Pollard of Knoxville is attending Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens where she is a freshman .
JUNE ’ S MOTION MAKER , owned by Frank Riggs of Athens , has decided to change her name to MONEY MOTION . So from now on let him be known and remembered ( I hope ) as MONEY MOTION . He is a bay , 2 year old stallion by MERRY MOTION MAKER and is in training at Wink Groover Stables .
SUNDUST OF MIDNIGHT previously owned by Owen Fullen , was sold during the Celebration and has moved to Meridian , Mississippi where he will be ridden in the Amateur classes by Mr . Jerome Ryan , owner of Ryan-Mc- Arthur Chevrolet Co ., which owns SPUR ’ S COMMANDER . He was previously trained and shown by Kenny Dickson of Evans Stables , Athens , Tennessee .
I ’ ve been corresponding with a very interesting pre-vet student named Sharon Terry . Sharon is also a contributing editor of the VOICE and writes Bits “ n ” Spurs . She is a freshman at Mississippi State University . Many of you have probably seen her at the Celebration for several years . She is a very good equistrian and a real nice person .
Peggy Howell of Halacres Farms is back at Tennessee Tech . Peggy is a sophomore this year and the daughter of Mr . and Mrs . J . S .
34 VOICE of The Tennessee Walking Horse